‘I was going to suggest it,’ Gillis said, with his most charming smile. ‘It’s raining Great Danes and Ginger Toms, and I couldn’t find a taxi.’
He entered the cosy sitting-room and took off his hat and coat.
‘I’m afraid I’m going to make a bit of a mess,’ he said apologetical y. ‘Shal I take these things into the bathroom?’
‘I don’t think you’d better, Adam. I’m expecting Preston,’ Eve said uneasily. ‘He phoned this evening to say he was coming. I thought it was he when you rang.’
Gillis smiled.
‘You don’t have to worry about Preston. He won’t be coming. He has a much more pressing appointment.’ He crossed the room to the door leading to the bathroom. ‘I think I’ll take a bath. I don’t want to catch cold.’
‘How do you know Preston won’t come?’ Eve asked sharply.
‘I’ll tel you al about it when I’ve had a bath,’ Gil is said. ‘There’s plenty of time.’
He went into the bathroom and locked himself in. He took a bath, lying in the hot water for some time, enjoying the luxury of it. Then he shaved, using Kile’s razor, and put on the dark blue quilted dressing-gown that Eve had left outside the door, and re-entered the sitting-room.
‘That’s much better,’ he said, going over to the electric fire Eve had turned on. He sat in an easy chair before the fire. ‘A whisky and soda would be welcome if you can run to it.’